Iain Masson Remembered

Iain Masson Remembered

It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news that Broch Surf Club member and local surfing legend Iain Masson passed away yesterday 03.02.22 at home in St. Combs after a long battle with illness.

Iain’s passing will be felt heavily amongst the local community here in Fraserburgh and across the globe where he touched so many people’s lives and gained many friendships through his many surfing travels.   

The unprecedented 7 x Scottish National Surfing Champion from Fraserburgh was a true surfing great, a real ambassador for the sport of Scottish surfing.

A Legend, a pioneer, an inspiration, a champ, a gentleman, a coach, a hero and to most within the surf club, a respected and loyal friend.

The most humble man of few words, when Iain spoke it was worth listening, his surf related knowledge was second to none, the surfing oracle.

Academically, Iain was an artist, a trait that was reflected on his surfing style and ability. His smooth, somewhat effortless nature on the wave face mirrored that of the lines drawn on an artist’s canvas, so rarely making mistakes.

Surfing was Iain’s life, the local surf shop Point North East and more recent employment at Score allowing “nightshift working for dayshift surfing” a testimony to his dedication and his love of the sport.     

Both Broch Surf Club and the Scottish Surfing Federation currently stand strong, built on the foundations and efforts supported by Iain over the decades. The European surf trips for the juniors,  “SSF Hardcore” editorials and publications, the Broch winter League events to name just a few of the personal background efforts undertaken by Iain.

The Broch Surf Club and surfing within the town of Fraserburgh continues to grow, Iain has set the standards, it’s up to us all to follow his ethos and continue his legacy.            

It is a sad time for all that knew and were close to Iain, but we can all take great comfort for the good times and memories we can all cherish and how he has made all our own lives better in some way or form.     

We have attached a short video clip of Iain surfing at an empty Thurso East somewhat 14 years ago, it’s a fitting tribute to Iain in his best place doing what he did best.

Please take the time to watch this short clip and take a moment to reflect on Iain’s life.

From your Broch Surf Club family,     

Show Reel – Tai Jennison

Show Reel – Tai Jennison

Featuring John Florence, Julian Wilson, Mitch Coleborn, Harry Bryant, Harrison Roach, Reef Heazlewood, Jack Robinson, Jai Glinderman, Alister Reginato and stacks more. A compilation of 2021's best surfing clips as seen through the lens of one of Australia’s best up and coming photographers Tai Jennison.

Reef

Reef

Glastonbury rockers REEF have released their new double A-side single ‘Wolfman’ / 'Right On', with both tracks taken from their eagerly anticipated new album Shoot Me Your Ace, which will be released on April 15th.

The two songs illustrate both sides of the acclaimed British band. ‘Wolfman’ is a huge groove laden track, as heavy as it is funky. Gary Stringer’s raw vocals lead the charge alongside screaming guitar lines and a rhythm section more solid than a slab of granite. It’s set to explode across live stages later this spring.

“When I see sweat dripping from a ceiling, speakers bouncing, crowds moving, that’s when I know that what we do is relevant no matter what else is going on around us,” says Gary. “Without that big heartbeat and that primal urge, the rest of it doesn’t mean anything. The one job a band has to do is excite people, and we know we excite people.”

Meanwhile ‘Right On’ is a beautiful and uplifting anthem, a burst of pure positivity written by Jack Bessant. “It’s about being the best person you can be, doing the right things, making the right decisions,” says the bassist. “You’ve got to be right on for yourself, for your friends, for the planet, for rock’n’roll.”

The double A-side single follows the release of the album’s debut single and title track ‘Shoot Me Your Ace’, which is a no-holds-barred, uptempo rock’n’rollacoaster that premiered on Chris Evans’ breakfast show on Virgin Radio. Watch the death defying-video shot inside a motorcycle wall of death above

The album was produced by former Duran Duran/ Power Station guitarist Andy Taylor whose playing on the record joins Gary Stringer on vocals, Jack Bessant on bass, Jesse Wood (son of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood) on guitars, and Luke Bessant, (ex-Bryan Ferry / KT Tunstall / Joe Strummer) on drums. Collectively they are remarkable array of talents who together can justly lay claim to being a national rock’n’roll treasure.

And Shoot Me Your Ace showcases their power in one of the most thrilling rock albums of recent years. From the title track’s swaggering opening salvo all the way through to album closer ‘Strangelove’, Shoot Me Your Ace is a thrilling blast of unadulterated rock’n’roll joy.

Producer Andy Taylor says, “I’ve been looking to make a record like this for a long time. I can’t love it enough. The chances you get in life to do something as great as this album don't come along very often, so when they do you just grab them.”

“The universe has put all the pieces into place for us,” continues Bessant. “This line-up, these four guys, along with Andy’s extra guitar and production, is just one big ball of energy that we managed to bottle. It feels like the start of a new chapter for us - Reef Mk II.”

This cosmic alchemy has resulted in a record that doesn’t just match such classic Reef albums as 1995 breakout debut Replenish or 1997’s transcendent Glow but exceeds them.
After two years of uncertainty, despondency and gloom, it feels like an outpouring of positivity. As Gary Stringer puts it: “It’s the sound the world needs right now.”

Shoot Me Your Ace will be released on a variety of formats including CD, black vinyl, coloured vinyl, cassette and digital. Pre-order the album, along with brand new Shoot Me Your Ace merchandise here:

REEF – Shoot Me Your Ace Tour
April 2022
7th Newcastle University
8th Glasgow QMU
9th Manchester – O2 Ritz
14th Exeter – Phoenix
15th Cardiff – Tramshed
16th London – O2 Forum Kentish Town
21st Leeds – University Stylus
22nd Bristol – O2 Academy
23rd Birmingham – O2 Institute
28th Brighton – Chalk
29th – Southampton – Engine Rooms
30th – Norwich – UEA

To pre-order the album or to buy ticket for the band’s forthcoming tour go to reeftheband.com

Click Here to listen to both tracks
Sandbank Sessions

Sandbank Sessions

“It’d be nice to have perfect waves every day, but that’s not always going to happen.” Dave Rastovich knows that in summer, you make your own fun.

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“I love the challenge of days like these, the lack of structure and the bending of rules. Surfing those waves is what I’d imagine playing jazz would be like. The waves were chaotic and wobbly, if they had a time signature it’d be all odd numbers. It wouldn’t be four to the floor; it’d be threes and fives and sevens. It made for an interesting challenge, but occasionally it all came together and hit a note perfectly.”

He laughs, recalling time spent on a sandbank close to home putting the Hydrolock boardshort through its paces.

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"I thought I was Howard Moon, the jazz cat from The Mighty Boosh.”⁠
Video : Liam O'Brien

70s Single

70s Single

Photography aficionado, shaper and wave slider James Parry rebirths a 70s classic single that was originally shaped by Kevin Cross. Throwing a modern template into the mix, from shaping to sea, follow the birth of this cosmic craft.

Epic Conditions at Billabong Pro

Epic Conditions at Billabong Pro

• WSL Champions Kelly Slater and John John Florence Put to the Test
• Upsets Shock Men’s Draw at Billabong Pro Pipeline
• More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

Pictured: John John Florence (HAW) took the victory over rookie Jackson Backer (AUS) in Heat 12 of the Round of 32, as well as rookie Joao Chianca (BRA) in Heat 6 of the Round of 16, advancing to the Quarterfinals at the Billabong Pro Pipeline. Photo: © WSL / Bielmann

The Billabong Pro Pipeline, the first stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2022 Championship Tour (CT), saw another epic day of conditions with a building swell into eight-to-twelve foot surf at the world-famous Banzai Pipeline. The men’s field is now down to eight competitors after finishing the Round of 32 and Round of 16 with the overlapping format. Today’s competition saw no shortage of near-perfect rides, upsets, and buzzer-beaters to set the stakes for the men’s Quarterfinals. The next call will be tomorrow, Wednesday, February 2, at 7:50 a.m. HST.

WSL Champions Kelly Slater and John John Florence Put to the Test at Billabong Pro Pipeline

Round of 32 action started off in slowly building conditions and saw event wildcard Barron Mamiya (HAW) win Heat 1 against World No. 4 Conner Coffin (USA). Mamiya advanced to Round of 16 to fulfil his dream of surfing against 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), who dominated Heat 2 against rookie Jake Marshall (USA).

“I love Barron! He is a really great guy and an awesome surfer,” said Slater ahead of the matchup. “He is that kind of wildcard that you have no idea what he’s going to do out there. I think everyone recognises him as one of the guys to beat. He’d be sitting at the top 10 of people you expect to do well at Pipeline.”

Mamiya applied pressure to the seven-time Pipeline victor throughout the first heat of the Round of 16 and was able to keep the lead on the scoreboard until the final seconds when Slater was gifted a buzzer-beater wave to take the win with a 9.23 (out of a possible 10).

Slater (USA) rapidly approaching 50 and still showing the kids how it's done. Photo: © WSL / Bielmann

“There was less than twenty [seconds] when I saw that wave. That’s why we do it, that’s what it’s all about. Just having a moment like that,” continued Slater after advancing to the Quarterfinals. “I know it’s early in the contest, but Barron’s the next generation out here and it’s just a pleasure to surf against him. I was trying to process the heat. I made a few errors on waves maybe in the first half, and he really capitalised. He was sitting really deep, [taking a] really aggressive line and I was sitting where I was lining up earlier because I thought there’d be some rights that would sneak wide. I just wasn’t feeling it and then I just calmed down and thought either a wave’s going to come through or it’s not, and I’d be happy for Barron. It’s just crazy thinking back on 30 years, how many times it’s happened to me and gone my way.”

Two-time WSL Champion John John Florence (HAW) also advanced to Round of 16 with ease after winning against rookie Jackson Baker (AUS). Florence then battled Brazilian rookie Joao Chianca, who defeated event favourite Jack Robinson (AUS) in the Round of 32 and put Florence to work on improved conditions. Shortly after Florence found Pipeline magic of his own to garner a 9.77, Chianca found near-perfection in a 9.87. Florence defeated the rookie with a 1.03 point difference and advanced to the Quarterfinals, where he will face Seth Moniz (HAW).

“It was a hard heat,” said Florence. “Joao’s wave was incredible. I was in the front seat watching it, and I was just happy and not happy at the same time. We had a good heat the other day, where we both got some good scores. So I was a bit nervous facing him again because he’s been charging out here. It looks like he really knows this kind of wave. So when the waves started coming I knew he was gonna be on the good ones too.”

Upsets Shock Men’s Draw at Billabong Pro Pipeline

Besides Coffin’s and Robinson’s eliminations in the Round of 32, three other upsets shook the competition this morning. World No. 6 Griffin Colapinto (USA) lost his heat to WSL Replacement Caio Ibelli (BRA); Kolohe Andino (USA) could not overcome rookie Lucca Mesinas (PER); and Kanoa Igarashi (JPN, above) eliminated Owen Wright (AUS), a favorite in heavy barrels. Ibelli, Mesinas and Igarashi also won their Round of 16 heats and advanced to the Quarterfinals.

“I have so much respect for Owen, he is one of the best ones out there,” said Igarashi. “In days with a short lineup like today, you have to think about your competitor and keep a close eye on him to know where they are. Two feet can make a big difference when positioning yourself there.”

The swell picked up into the afternoon as the Round of 16 match-ups got underway with more surprising results. WSL Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) faced fellow Brazilian Miguel Pupo in Heat 3 and Pupo, at the 12-minute mark, found a Pipeline gem of which he re-emerged after being deep inside the barrel to earn a 7.33 and eliminate the 2019 WSL Champion.

Rookie Samuel Pupo (BRA) followed his brother’s footsteps and also managed to eliminate a CT veteran from the competition, Jordy Smith (ZAF) in the last heat of the day.

Mesinas got to walk through the Round of 16 to the Quarterfinals as Carlos Munoz (CRI) was unable to finish the heat due to injury. Munoz dislocated his shoulder during the Round of 32 and tried to recover in time for his heat. After receiving clearance from the doctors on-site to compete, Munoz started the heat but felt his injury while in the water and had to leave the competition.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Round of 32 Results:
HEAT 1: Barron Mamiya (HAW) 10.77 DEF. Conner Coffin (USA) 8.57
HEAT 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 11.70 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 1.50
HEAT 3: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 7.67 DEF. Owen Wright (AUS) 5.63
HEAT 4: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 9.66 DEF. Nat Young (USA) 7.33
HEAT 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.67 DEF. Miguel Tudela (PER) 9.60
HEAT 6: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.84 DEF. Connor O’Leary (AUS) 7.10
HEAT 7: Carlos Munoz (CRI) 12.37 DEF. Frederico Morais (PRT) 7.43
HEAT 8: Lucca Mesinas (PER) 12.23 DEF. Kolohe Andino (USA) 11.10
HEAT 9: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 12.44 DEF. Ivan Florence (HAW) 9.50
HEAT 10: Seth Moniz (HAW) 12.00 DEF. Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 10.27
HEAT 11: Joao Chianca (BRA) 13.37 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 8.33
HEAT 12: John John Florence (HAW) 14.57 DEF. Jackson Baker (AUS) 5.40
HEAT 13: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 11.23 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 10.43
HEAT 14: Callum Robson (AUS) 10.97 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 10.00
HEAT 15: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 14.00 DEF. Deivid Silva (BRA) 5.26
HEAT 16: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.00 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 10.00

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.23 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 15.17
HEAT 2: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 11.70 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 10.50
HEAT 3: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.40 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 8.73
HEAT 4: Lucca Mesinas (PER) 3.07 DEF. Carlos Munoz (CRI) INJ
HEAT 5: Seth Moniz (HAW) 8.00 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 3.50
HEAT 6: John John Florence (HAW) 17.77 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 16.74
HEAT 7: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 12.83 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 5.23
HEAT 8: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 15.16 DEF. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.20

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Quarterfinals Matchups:
HEAT 1: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
HEAT 2: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Lucca Mesinas (PER)
HEAT 3: Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. John John Florence (HAW)
HEAT 4: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)

Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Malia Manuel (HAW)
HEAT 2: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. India Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 3: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Moana Jones Wong (HAW)
HEAT 4: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
HEAT 5: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Bethany Hamilton (HAW)
HEAT 6: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Brisa Hennessy (CRI)
HEAT 7: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Molly Picklum (AUS)
HEAT 8: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Luana Silva (HAW)